You Belong to Me – 92

 

 

“You shaved,” Corey said the moment he saw Phil. “And got a haircut.”

 

Phil laughed. “Yeah, I think the groom is supposed to look presentable, at least according to my soon-to-be bride.” He glanced at the others and then back to Corey. “I thought you were bringing your most recent girlfriend.”

 

“Well, about that… umm….”

 

Scott stepped forward, holding out his hand. “I’m Scott Reed, and I’m not a girl.”

 

“I can see that,” Phil said dryly. “Corey, is there something you’ve neglected to tell me?”

 

Feeling more comfortable now that he knew his parents had accepted he was gay, Corey replied, “There is. Scott’s my… well, ‘boyfriend’ sounds lame now that I think about it. He’s my lover and—”

 

“Maybe more in time,” Scott broke in. Then he asked sharply, “Does that bother you?”

 

Phil shrugged. “Hell, man, I live here and work in the movie industry. What do you think?”

 

“That your job does not necessarily define how you feel about accepting a gay couple. Especially when one half of the couple is your brother.”

 

“I’m cool with it, as long as you make him happy. If you screw him around, you’ll have me to deal with. Got that?”

 

“Yeah, got it.” Scott held out his hand again, and this time Phil shook it.

 

“Now that that’s settled,” Cathy said, smiling at the assembled group, “shall we eat? Oh, and Scott, it’s nice to meet you. Surprising—” She grinned. “—considering we were expecting him to bring a woman as a cover, but nice nonetheless.”